Anu Garg, IAS, Chief Secretary of the Government of Odisha, visited the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) today to review its operations and long-term expansion plans. She was received by Shri P. L. Haranadh, IRTS, Chairman of the PPA, at the Wet Basin and was given a ceremonial guard of honor by the CISF unit. She also took a boat ride to assess berth readiness, vessel traffic management systems, and marine operations.
Paradip Port achieved a record cargo handling of 150.41 MMT in FY 2024–25, ranking as India's No. 1 Major Port. With a rated capacity of 289 MTPA, industry-leading productivity, and a provisional net surplus of ₹1,860 crore, the Port continues to set national benchmarks while maintaining the lowest vessel and cargo charges among major ports.
During the interaction, the Chief Secretary outlined Odisha’s ambitious economic roadmap, targeting USD 500 billion by 2036 and USD 1.5 trillion by 2047. She emphasized the need for double-digit growth driven by exports, shipbuilding, and port-led development, highlighting Odisha's coastline as a strategic advantage.
She underscored the importance of the "Paradip Port 2.0" vision, including capacity expansion beyond 500 MTPA, deepening of the Western Dock, and the development of a dedicated green hydrogen berth. Discussions also covered the proposed 150 MTPA Bahuda Port in the Ganjam district and a 1.2 million GT capacity shipbuilding and ship repair cluster north of the Mahanadi in Kendrapara district. These projects, to be developed through a Special Purpose Vehicle between the Government of Odisha and the Paradip Port Authority, are expected to significantly strengthen the State's maritime economy. The development of a cruise terminal at Puri was also discussed, with emphasis on priority implementation.
The Chief Secretary stressed the integrated development of Paradip alongside industrial growth in PCPIR, the Plastic Park, AMNS, and the Green Hydrogen hub, supported by industrial townships, housing, tourism infrastructure, and urban amenities. She highlighted planned land use, strong law and order, and inclusive public infrastructure as key enablers of growth.
Referring to Odisha's strong fiscal position and high capital expenditure allocation, she called for diversification beyond mining into shipbuilding, renewable energy, rare earth processing, aerospace, apparel, tourism, and cruise development to ensure sustainable long-term expansion.
The visit reaffirmed a shared commitment to transform Paradip into a globally competitive maritime gateway and a major driver of Odisha's economic and maritime growth.
Shri J. Sonal, IAS, District Collector and District Magistrate of Jagatsinghpur, and Shri Ankit Kumar Verma, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Jagatsinghpur, were also present on the occasion. Shri T. Venu Gopal, Deputy Chairman, PPA, along with senior officials of the Paradip Port Authority, attended the deliberations.
As part of her day-long visit to Paradeep, Smt. Garg, Chief Secretary, Odisha, held an important review meeting at the Board Room of IFFCO Paradeep and interacted with the Unit Head and senior officials. She also reviewed the progress of major industrial and infrastructure projects and the challenges faced by industries such as IFFCO Paradeep, PPL Paradeep, JSW Utkal Steel Limited, AMNS, and other industrial units operating in the region. The Chief Secretary took stock of key developmental initiatives, including road connectivity, township development, hospital infrastructure, the construction of new multi-specialty hospitals, and the proposed airport at Paradeep. Issues faced by industries were discussed in detail, and necessary directions were issued for their expeditious resolution, reaffirming the State Government's commitment to holistic industrial development of Paradeep. The programme was coordinated in the presence of Shri Arindam Dakua, Addl. Secretary, H&UD Department, Odisha, the Collector, Jagatsinghpur, and Superintendent of Police, Jagatsinghpur, and Shri P. K. Mahapatra, Unit Head, IFFCO Paradeep.